Celebrate STATE HISTORY AND WRITING
NONFICTION- with a visit from author,
Michele Zavatsky. Discover places like hidden castles and caves, whistle
factories, and workshops of great inventors. You’ll find tours, unique
museums, and seasonal events at places you probably never thought of!
Then, take a lively trip through research, writing, editing and printing
with lots of real-life visuals.

My enthusiasm
for my work will inspire and motivate audiences K-6. I promise a
memorable and educational experience for all! When schools invite me, they
can choose between two entirely different and exciting programs, based on
one of the KIDS LOVE Travel books:

1) Kids Love State History Day --
unfolding the history of our state through the travel adventures featured
in my book, KIDS LOVE (your state).

2) Kids Love Travel Writing Day --
captivating students with interesting retellings of favorite stories from
my books - the KIDS LOVE Travel Series – and then, the students writing
their own book.

Both programs include: a presentation outline, school
assemblies, 'Lunch with the Author,' “make-your-own” postcards, book
sales, and personalized book-signings.

Workshops:

Kids Love State History Day

The
book "KIDS LOVE OHIO"
is the basis of Kids Love State History Day. The assembly includes props
(souvenirs collected from travels), stories, humor, audience
participation, a craft project, and (optional) recognition of a local
Historical attraction from your community. Seeing and participating in
this assembly, your students will understand that historical attractions
surround us, that state history is easy to explore, and every child will
leave thinking their state history is pretty cool. 60 minutes per session.
Allow 20 minutes for booksignings. Best for the first half of the school
day. FEE: $300.00 per session or $550.00 for Half-Day - (two
sessions). The fee is $750.00 for a combination of both theme days into one school day.

Kids
Love Travel Writing Day is based on "KIDS
LOVE Travel Guides", a collection of thousands of places
kids love to visit, such as: hidden castles, candy factories, and land
where famous pioneers once trod. We begin by sharing with your students
our actual research techniques (and add in some amusing stories). Students
then learn how to create their own “Our School Loves Travel” mini-book.
Fee: $550.00 for one assembly & breakouts (Half Day). The fee is $750.00
for a combination of both theme days into one school day.

The
2-3 breakout sessions are most meaningful for the older grades. They
include, up to three half-hour visits with smaller groups (two or three of
the older classes combined).

These visits focus on preparing a Non-Fiction Book Project:

1)It takes special talent to write Fiction, but everyone has a zest
for certain hobbies that produce “How To” Non-Fiction works.

2)Using “Sensory” words when writing about your experiences.

3)Edit – does it make as much sense to the reader as to the writer?

4)It is important for kids to hear this input from professionals
outside the home or the school setting.

5)Good nonfiction challenges readers to look at the world in new
ways.

6)Students and teachers come away with many creative ideas and the
desire to try more research and nonfiction writing of their own.

Both Half-Days Include:

"Lunch with the Author"
allows a dozen of your student writers to dine with me and be recognized
and praised for their abilities. I also share a little of myself -- my
family, how I got started, etc. All this helps kids feel that they have
gotten to know a 'real' author and prompts a lively question-and-answer
session in the last ten minutes of each visit.

The Lunch should be no longer than 30
minutes. Maybe have the librarian serve state-shaped cutout cookies or
Buckeye candy for dessert. Students are thrilled to be with the special
guest initially, but soon yearn to rejoin their friends to tell them all
about it. At least one adult should be present.

Workshop Guides
are available online for reproduction in advance of my visits. These are full of tips on how to make the most of
the day and how best to prepare the students. The underlying messages of
my work in the schools are:

1) Books, storytelling (sharing stories
out loud), history, research and writing are fun.

2) With the younger children I explore the
difference between non-fiction and fiction –a travel guide is factual, a
travel mystery is made up.

3) With the older children I explore paths
and the importance of writing skills: Find what you love to do, do it
often, figure out how to tell others about it, and you’ll be happy with
your end product.

Book Sales:
Schools I visit are expected to offer my books for purchase by students
and staff using a simple 'send-home' form, which I provide. These items
are provided at a 20% educator Group Sale Discount to the schools I visit. Most
schools offer the books "at cost," though some opt to add a small profit.
All purchased books are signed.

Their program fit our state history curriculum
perfectly! An affordable, engaging and entertaining experience! The best
use of PTA funds. Invite Mrs. Z, the Family Travel Mom to your school
this year!

- Sue, Ohio
Educator

Our students
loved their visit with George & Michele Zavatsky. George & Michele were so
enthusiastic about all the places they visited and this enthusiasm was
contagious. Students “traveled” with them by way of their “memento board”
to learn about Blue Jacket and Tecumseh. They talked about what it was
like for those taking refuge on the “underground railroad” or those
pioneers who churned their own butter and ground corn into flour. They
ask, “What would it have been like to plant trees with Johnny Appleseed,
or go sharpshooting with Annie Oakley?” They also did a fun activity where
students wrote a postcard to send to a friend about an historic place in
Ohio they had visited, either personally or through the Zavatsky’s
colorful descriptions. Their visit was definitely the “buzz” around the
school for the next several days as students shared with each other the
places they had visited or would now like to visit!”